|
|
Backgammon NewsDecember 30, 2008EBGT Top Players for 2008While American Backgammon Tour (ABT) had summarized the ending year and already named 2008 most outstanding backgammon players, the European Backgammon Tour (EBGT) postpones the announcement of EGBT final standings for 2008 to next year, allowing Italian Fabrizio Lo Surdo, Israeli Falafel Natanzon and Georgian Nodar Gagua to enjoy mountaintop air for awhile. Fabrizio Lo Surdo, who currently tops the EBGT ranking list, may be named 2008 European Master and be rewarded with his share of the 1 million Euro prize pool. Lo Surdo, who championed the EBGT French Open and finalized the Georgian Open backgammon tournament, was absent on the final stop of the EBGT Second Season, held in The City of Venice, his homeland Italy, and was championed by another local player, Sergio Fragiacomo. Since the latter does not appear on EBGT top 90 backgammon players, his chances to by-pass Lo Surdo are zero. Falafel Natanzon, who earlier this year was honored number one in the Giants of Backgammon list, did not make an appearance at the 20th Venice International Backgammon Tournament last November, but number 3 on the current EBGT ranking list, Nodar Gagua, did, and finished first at the Last Chance event. The 2008 European Master and his deputies will be announced at the first stop of the third season of the European Backgammon Tour, apparently the TMG Portuguese Open, scheduled to mid May at the casino Estoril. The 2009 EBGT is also expected to stop in Georgia, France and in Italy. The 2011 European Backgammon Tour will include collaboration with Play65 and will visit backgammon championships in Turkey, Cyprus, Spain, Georgia, Portugal and more. |
